Half to ambrose l



(Model.)

H. R. GILLINGHAM.

HOT AIR FURNACE.

Pgmtented Dec. 11, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

HENRY R. GILLINGHAM, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGT'OR OF ONE- HALF TO AMBROSE L. HUG HNS, OF SAME PLACE.

HOT-AIR'FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,355, dated December 11, 1888.

Application filed January 21, 1388- Serial No. 261,487. (Modeh) ing had to the accompanying drawingssvhich form part of this specification...

ll/[yllH611hl011 relates to an improvement in hot-air furnaces.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatically-acting valve which will regulate the amount of air which shall pass into the inclosing-frame in which the stoves or furi naces are placed, so as to prevent a greater quantity of air from passing into the frame than can be heated.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a furnace which embodies my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the top removed and the stoves i or furnaces partly in section.

A represents a suitable inclosing case, frame, or jacket, and which is provided upon all of its sides and its top with an inner wall, B, and the space in between these walls is to be filled with asbestus, charcoal, earth, or any suitable non-conductin g substance which will prevent the radiation of heat from the hot-air chamber 1). Extending into thishot-air chamber from the front wall of the frame or jacket is one or more stoves or furnaces, G, of any desired construction, shape, or size, and which may all be of the same size or different sizes, as may be preferred. These stoves or furnaces are made entirely separate and distinct from each other, so that any one or more of them can be used, according to the outside atmosphere and the amount of heat desired. During very cold weather all of the stoves or furnaces will be kept going; but in the spring or early fall, or on warm days, only one or two may be used. All of these stoves or furnaces are connected at their tops to the same outlet-pipe, I; but with this exception there is no connection between them. The outlet-flue F is made through the top plate, G, of each Stove or furnace, and this flue is controlled by means of an ordinary damper, ll, which has its handle to project through a small door, I,

made just above the door .l of the stove or furnace. By means of these dampers the draft in each stove is regulated. All three of the stoves have their bodies projecting into the hot-air chamber, and the heat rises from this chamber through the different outletpipcs L, which lead to different portions of the building. If so desired, these pipes may be provided with valves, so that the heat can be sent in any desired direction. As the inclosing case or jacketA is made non-conducting, all of the heat from the stoves or furnaces will be utilized in heating the building, and not allowed to escape into the cellar or other place, as would otherwise occur. There being several stoves or furnaces, a much smaller fire can be kept going in one of them than could be done in a heater sufliciemily large to heat the entire building, and hence a very great saving of fuel is effected, and it is also possible to better control the heat.

The cold air is admitted to the inclosing jacket or frame A through the pipe N, and the outer end of this pipe N is controlled by the valve 0, which is loosely hung in the support or frame Q, provided especial] y for it. This valve is so hung or balanced as to move readily from the pressure of the cold air against it, and through the valve is made an opening, R, sufficiently large for the passage of all of the cold air that needed in the frame or jacket A. As shown in Fig. 2, while this valve hangs vertical] y in the pipe Q, air can pass freely around the edges of the valve, as well as through the opening R at its center, and pass freely into the chamber 1) through the pipe \Yhile there is but a very small current of air passing through the perforation in the valve, the valve hangs vertically and the mouth of the pipe is left free; but as soon as the cold creates a sufficient pressure against the outer side of this valve it at once closes against the end of the pipe, as shown in dotted lines, and then no air is admitted to the hot-air chamber except what passes through the openin in the valve. During moderate weather, when there is but a comparatively small amount of air passing into the hot-air chamber, this valve is not atfected by the inward .flow; butlin proportion as alarger amount of air is needed in the hot air chamber so the valve is forced against the end of the pipe for the purpose of closing it, and thus preventing more than a certain regulated amount being admitted. By this construction the amount of air admitted into the hot-air chamber is in direct proportion to the amount of heat in one or more of the stoves or furnaces.

Pivoted to the inner inclosing-wall of the through the pipes L and inclosing-frame. The pipe N, being providedwith an automaticallyacting valve at each end, and Which operate in opposite directions, only a limited amount of air can pass into the frame,while none can pass backward out of it.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- The combination,with an inclosing frame or jacket, of one or more stoves or furnaces placed therein, a pipe, N, and an automatically-acting perforated valve, R, which is suspended just beyond the end of thepipe N, substantially as set'forth.

1n testimonywhereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

i-IEN-RY R. eILLiNeHA-M.

Vitnesses:

EDM. P. ELLIS, A. S. PATTISON. 

